Wednesday, May 2, 2012

I have been very stable in my mental health recovery for a while now. Not perfect, not unbumpy this road, but stable. I have had ugly things go on in my life like many of us don't get me wrong.

I have the Good Stuff blog to tell the world about my joys and things that make me happy. And I have been blessed to be able enjoy many crafts to make things with my own hands in this journey. I haven't stopped by the blog and talked with blogland in a while but I am still here and am proud to update you on my 'good stuff' of late today. :)

www.Craftsy.com is just THE COOLEST site!! You can take online classes there for a fee, and if you sign up for the newsletters and pay attention you can get discounts. You can also take workshops for usually less expensive on various topics. I won a T-shirt from them for taking the Stephane Japel (sp?) shrug workshop and answering some questions. I was soo excited to win something!! And I love that T-shirt.

I paid for a workshop to learn to make a cowl neck scarf that features a cable motif. For knitters, I'm telling you that the cable stitch is Not that hard. I thought for sure it was rocket science until I took a knit class from my local community college and asked my teacher to show me cables, intarsia (color knitting) and other 'complicated' stuff that I was afraid of. That teacher also encouraged me to make socks for which I am forever grateful. I didn't think I could. She/I proved myself wrong.

So back to Craftsy. I am, again, not paid or associated to shill for them, I simply adore them and love to say so. But that pattern for the cabled cowl is very easy and I am on my second one! Yes! The one I made just needs buttons and we good to go!:)

My first online class I signed up for is the sewing basics class by Debra (I believe) Rupp (I know her last name is correct). I happened to buy her book at 'Borders' before they went out of business so I was thrilled to find her on Craftsy giving a class on sewing a pillow and how to make both a muslin and real 'Naughty Secretary' skirt in her class.

I am still learning or waiting/procractinating to make the pillow. I have All the stuff to do it now - the material, thread and even the right size pillow form but have been, you guessed it, uber busy and have not done it yet. Debra walks you through it so thoroughly that I understand how to do it. I have just have been waiting until the sun, the moon and the stars align so I can sit down at my sewing machine (which I set up on my dining room table) and go at it.

Craftsy has deals to buy yarn (Yum!) and quilting fabric too, with Mystery boxes filled with yarn and needles and good stuff!!

My First Sock!!!

I am Soooo proud of it! It is large but notice the ribbing, the gussetts, the lovely color! I feel like a Gen-ius for making a SOCK!! I am working on the second one still. Good Stuff!! :)

About Me

I am a JungleTart: Hear me roar.
I have a great love for animals and for the loving people in my life. Here is a place where its obvious I've got plenty of ups and downs - since I'm bipolar and brilliant, loving, kind and fun most of the time.

Check out my other blog at...

Jungletart Fresh!

Mmmm,mmh!

From My Daily Pug Calendar!

When you really want to put a dog at ease, rub her gently under the chin. Among dogs, this is a sign of respect and love, and it's the way puppies greet adults.Praise & reward your dogwhenever possible.

"He is my most sincere admirer; he loves me though he has never read my work!" - Rudyard Kipling of his cocker spaniel"The greater love is a mother's; then comes a dog's; then a sweetheart's. - Polish proverb "Two dogs may be twice the fun, but it is important that each dog has an individual relationship with you."